The TALKE group customer magazine 2008 Edition

Grand opening
NEW
CONTAI NER TERMI NAL
Qatar LANDMARK ON THE GULF Takeover TALKE MANAGING ONSITE LOGISTICS IN WESSELING
Telematics OPTIMISATION IN THE DRIVERS CAB Destination ABU DHABI
HIGHLIGHT 08 2 3 HIGHLIGHT 08
How many logistical services providers do
you make use of at your Wesseling and
nearby Knapsack sites?
For the most part, we draw upon the
services of fve logistics companies at these
locations. This distribution approach using
several partners and the subsequent local
competition at the sites and, by the way,
across Europe is a decisive element of our
strategy.
What are the advantages of outsourcing on
the companys own premises?
Both sides are able to concentrate on doing
what they do best. The service provider
contributes its logistics expertise and product-
handling synergies, while we variabilise our
logistics costs and reduce them signifcantly.
Are there any services that you defnitely want
to keep in-house?
At LyondellBasell, we want to retain command
over logistical control processes like production
scheduling and transport organisation. On top
of this, we work very closely with our service
providers in regard to safety at work, logistical
processes and quality management. We there-
fore continue to maintain responsibility in these
areas, too. Otherwise, transparent workfows
immersion in LyondellBasells SAP system make
it much easier to integrate service providers.
How would you summarise the relationship
with TALKE thus far?
Although the partnership is still in its infancy,
we were particularly impressed with the profes-
sionalism we experienced during the transfer
of operations to TALKE. Further, there were no
problems at all in the crucial early weeks that
followed, either. We scarcely noticed that there
was a transition and, as we all know, thats a
classic characteristic of good quality logistics.
CONTACT:
klaus.wessing@talke.com
TAKEOVER
WE WERE PARTIC-
ULARLy IMPRESSED
By THE PROFESSIO-
NALISM DURING
THE TRANSFER
ON 1 J ULy 2008, TALKE S
LOGI STI C SERVI CES UNI T TOOK
OVER OPERATI ON OF ONE OF
SI x LOGI STI CS FACI LI TI ES AT
LyONDELLBASELL S LARGEST
EUROPEAN PRODUCTI ON SI TE.
THOMAS VOSHARDT, HEAD OF
LOGI STI CS SI TE OPERATI ONS,
WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE AT
THE CHEMI CAL MANUFACTURER
RESPONSI BLE FOR CHOOSI NG
TALKE AS A POLyMER LOGI STI CS
PARTNER. HE SHED SOME LI GHT ON
WHAT WAS BEHI ND THE DECI SI ON.
Thomas Voshardt, Head of Logistics Site Operations Central Europe at LyondellBasell
FACTS ABOUT
LyONDELLBASELLS
AT WESSELING/KNAPSACK
SITE AND TALKES
ACTIVITIES THERE
LyondellBasell is active in three areas of business
in Wesseling/Knapsack: polyethylene and
polypropylene production, development and
production of advanced polyolefns, and plastics
technology. The 11,000 m
2
facility run by TALKE
handles up to 320,000 metric tons of polyethyle-
ne annually. The 14-strong teams responsibilities
include transferring material from production,
storing it in silos, and packing and prepa-
ration for shipping to customers. Altogether,
LyondellBasells Wesseling location manufactures
around 2 million metric tons of plastic granules
per year for the processing industry.
2008 has been a year of major events. Sports
fans certainly got their moneys worth at the
European Football Championship hosted by
Switzerland and Austria. The Beijing Olympics
were another major sporting highlight which
also marked Chinas entry onto the world
stage. At TALKE, weve also experienced some
major new developments this year.
In March, we took over the contract to build the
largest, most state-of-the-art silo logistics centre
in the entire Gulf region. After completing
construction in Qatar in early 2009, we will
operate a logistics facility that not only sets a
new standard for our family business, but is
also unique on a regional level.
We were always guided on a strategic level by
our aim of best supporting our customers with
DEAR READERS,
IN THIS EDITION
What are the primary criteria that a logisti-
cal services provider needs to fulfl in order
to work for LyondellBasell?
The complete package has to add up. Beyond
a convincing business proposal, whats vital
to us at LyondellBasell is a service providers
expertise and quality, especially when it comes
to on-the-job safety. Were familiar with TALKE
from operational agreements at other European
sites as well as logistical services, particularly
in Germany. TALKE has also proven itself as a
partner in Saudi Arabia, for instance. As such,
we knew what we could expect.
innovative logistics solutions along the entire
supply chain. And this isnt about to change.
Should a medium-sized, family-owned
company increasingly position itself globally?
Although we wouldnt as yet describe TALKE
Logistic Services as a global service pro-
vider, we have answererd the question of
international expansion with a categorical yes.
TALKEs commitments beyond Europe have
moved more and more to the forefront in
recent years, and new markets will continue
to infuence our future expansion activities.
But in spite of this, or perhaps because of
it, our initial markets also retain an elevated
strategic signifcance at the TALKE group.
We intend to keep supporting the growth
of our petrochemical industry partners
in Germany and throughout Europe with
targeted investments such as our new con-
tainer terminal in Hrth and the intensifed
upgrading of intermodal equipment.
As Salvador Dal once said: I prefer to re-
member the future. A ftting motto for TALKE
in these fast-moving times, dont you think?
Enjoy the read!
yours,
Alfred Talke
PAGE 3 Takeover: We were particularly impressed by the professionalism
during the transfer
PAGE 4 Incident booklet: Preventative measures
PAGE 5 TALKE fre brigade: Ready, steady, voluntary
PAGE 6 Modernisation: The return of ultra-modern rackingafter 33 years
PAGE 8 Telematics: Optimising processes in the drivers cab
PAGE 10 Dry Bulk Logistics: BULK FORMULA trucking along with new logo after fve years
PAGE 12 Grand opening: One-stop shopping at the Hrth container terminal
PAGE 14 China: Kerry-TALKE takes on frst projects in China
PAGE 16 Qatar: Landmark on the Gulf
PAGE 17 Saudi Arabia: Increased volumes from Al-Jubail
PAGE 18 Interview: Were turning into a global service provider!
PAGE 20 Destination: Abu Dhabi modern metropolis in the Arabian desert
PAGE 24 Expansion: Logistics centre expansion creates new jobs
FleetBoard: Battle of the most economical drivers
HIGHLIGHT 08 4 5 HIGHLIGHT 08
F
or modern industrial operations these
days, human and environmental safety
takes precedence over all economic in-
terests, but the state still has responsibility for
determining how companies go about this. In
Germany, for example, the 12th Ordinance
of the Federal Emissions Control Act regulates
who needs to meet specifc safety measures.
The act is Germanys national implementation
of the EUs Seveso II Directive, named after a
town in northern Italy affected by a 1976 in-
dustrial accident that resulted in the release of
a cloud of dangerous chemicals. Covering ha-
zardous incidents, the 12th Ordinance applies
to all areas of operation, including production
facilities and storage, in which enough of a
given dangerous substance is present (the
quantity threshold) to pose an increased
potential risk. Operators of all industrial sites
falling under this directive are obligated to
take the necessary safety precautions in order
to prevent any incidents or, if need be, mini-
mise their impact on people and the environ-
ment to as great an extent as possible.
One preventative measure is the requirement
for facilities to compile and distribute their
own incident booklet which is to be reissued
every fve years. Providing information
about materials stored in the warehouses,
specifc dangers they may pose and the
precise location of all the logistics centres.
TALKEs neighbours will also, for example,
fnd specifc instructions concerning conduct
during an emergency as well as contact
details should they have any questions. The
booklet is distributed within a 700-m radius
of each company location, with the exception
of those facilities integrated into customer
production sites, where the producer itself
provides such information.
CONTACT:
andreas.goebels@talke.com
INCIDENT BOOKLET
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
SAFETy I S ONE OF THE MOST CRI TI CAL TOPI CS I N THE CHEMI CAL AND
PETROCHEMI CAL I NDUSTRy, AND AT TALKE, I T S ALWAyS BEEN OF UTMOST
I MPORTANCE. AN I LLUSTRATI ON OF HOW SERI OUSLy TALKE TAKES I TS RESPON-
SI BI LI Ty TO CUSTOMERS, EMPLOyEES AND THOSE LOCATED NEAR COMPANy
FACI LI TI ES I S OUR RECENTLy UPDATED I NCI DENT BOOKLET, WHI CH HELPS KEEP
THE PUBLI C I N THE DI RECT VI CI NI Ty OF TALKE LOGI STI CS CENTRES I NFORMED
ABOUT WHAT TO DO I N CASE OF EMERGENCy.
TALKE FIRE BRIGADE
READy, STEADy, VOLUNTARy
I
t looked like a classic, but was equipped
with everything that was needed. The beau-
tifully maintained Magirus TLF 8/18 tank
fre-fghting vehicle served at TALKE in Hrth
until April 2008, when it was replaced by a
Mercedes LF 16 group fre fghter. Besides
a 1,600-litre water tank and all essential
equipment (e.g. binding agents, extinguisher
canons, breathing apparatuses and rescue
gear), the new truck also comes with a 750-
kg trailer for fre extinguishing powder.
Today, the TALKE company fre brigade num-
bers 14 employee volunteers, mainly from the
Logistics Operations. In case of emergency,
theyre the frst on the scene taking action.
They also support the municipal fre brigade
by, for example, providing specifc informa-
tion about the site and products stored there.
We have many functions aimed at contin-
ually improving safety at the Hrth facility,
which is our largest logistics operation, says
Andreas Goebels, head of the company fre
brigade and an occupational safety specialist
who also drives a fre truck in his spare time
for the Hrth volunteer fre brigade. These
include ongoing monitoring and maintenance
of all safety installations, such as the fre ex-
tinguishing system at the container terminal.
We also form the emergency defbrillator
team, which includes a trained paramedic.
Members of the fre brigade undertake regular
monthly training which includes practice in
various emergency scenarios, rescue opera-
tions and, of course, fre fghting. They also
attend theoretical instruction sessions at regular
intervals together with professional fre fghters.
The company fre brigade never intended to
replace its municipal counterpart, declared
Goebels about the volunteer units policy.
Our full-time colleagues are always informed
of an emergency, and our primary objectives
remain prevention and safety awareness.

Three genuine emergencies
The fact that they have rarely been called
upon highlights the company fre brigades
success in achieving these goals. Since 1993,
the troop has only had to deal with three
emergencies. The frst was a fre in a rubbish
container. Then they were needed to sort out
a leaking bio-diesel tank. The most recent
mission was in 2000, when there was a spon-
taneous chemical reaction of a product stored
in an IBC (intermediate bulk container). This
time around, the TALKE volunteers received as-
sistance from the Hrth municipal fre brigade
with putting out the fre, but they were able to
carry out all subsequent work on their own.
Fortunately, however, its rather quiet at the
site. Perhaps its a good thing that the com-
pany fre brigades responsibilities include
the check-up and maintenance of safety
systems at Hrth. Things might be too boring
otherwise.
CONTACT:
andreas.goebels@talke.de
WHEN THE OPPORTUNI Ty TO ACQUI RE A FI RE ENGI NE AROSE
I N 1993 WI TH THE END OF PRODUCTI ON AT CHEMI SCHE FABRI K
KALK ( CFK) , A COLOGNE CHEMI CAL PLANT, TALKE TECHNI CAL
DI RECTOR J AKOB KRI PS DI DN T HESI TATE. THE TALKE COMPANy
FI RE BRI GADE WAS BORN. SI NCE THEN, A TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS
HAS SUCCESSFULLy HANDLED THE THREE ( THANKFULLy MI NOR)
I NCI DENTS I T HAS BEEN CALLED OUT TO DEAL WI TH.
INFORMATIONEN
FR UNSERE NACHBARN
KONTAKT
ALFRED TALKE GmbH & Co. KG
Strfallbeauftragter
Tel.: +49 (0)2233 599144
Fax: +49 (0)2233 599421
E-Mail: she-q@talke.com
Unternehmenskommunikation
Tel.: +49 (0)2233 599514
Fax: +49 (0)2233 500103
E-Mail: media@talke. com
Herausgeber:
ALFRED TALKE GmbH & Co. KG
Max-Planck-Strae 20
50354 Hrth
Tel.: +49 (0)2233 5990
Fax: +49 (0)2233 599263
E-Mail: info@talke.com
Internet: www.talke.com
VERHALTEN IM STRFALL
1. Alarm/Entwarnung
* Slrenenslgnol
Warnung: eine Minute auf- und abschwellender Heulton
Entwarnung: eine Minute Dauerton
* Rundlunk, Fernseh und Loulsprecherdurchsogen
2. Sicherheitshinweise
* Vom nlollorl lern blelben
* Geschlossene Rume oulsuchen
* Fensler und luren schlleben
* Kllmoonlogen und Lullung ousschollen
* Klndern und hlllsbedurlllgen Menschen hellen
* Possonlen oulnehmen
* Klnder ln Schule oder Klndergorlen belossen
* Mochborn lnlormleren
* Cllenes Feuer vermelden [nlchl rouchen|
* Bel gesundhellllchen Beelnlrchllgungen Konlokl mll dem Arzl oulnehmen
3. Information
* Fr aktuelle Informationen und Hinweise Radio und Fernseher einschalten:
Anlenne MHz Kobelrodlo MHz
Rodlo Erll 10,80 P0,40
Rodlo Kln 10Z,10 10Z,0
VDR 2 100,40 P2,0,P8,Z
* Loulsprecherdurchsogen beochlen
* Molrullelelonlellungen nlchl durch Rucklrogen blockleren
* lnlolelelone:
Brgertelefon Hrth: +49 (0)2233 53194
Brgertelefon Feuerwehr Kln: +49 (0)221 921 220921
4. Verkehrswege freihalten
* Den Anordnungen der Molloll und Rellungsdlensle
[wle Pollzel und Feuerwehr| Folge lelslen
* Kelne Fluchl mll dem Aulo oder zu Fub.
Dle Verkehrswege mussen lur dle Elnsolzkrlle lrelblelben.
NOTRUFNUMMERN
Feuerwehr: 112
Pollzel: 110
TV
RZ_storfall_talke.indd 1 12.03.2008 17:27:12 Uhr
TV
INFORMATION
FOR OUR NEIGHBOURS
HIGHLIGHT 08 6 7 HIGHLIGHT 08
H
rth logistics staff worked with their
colleagues in Niehl for six months
on planning and implementing the
modernisation and expansion of the facilities.
During the frst phase, the existing single-space
racks in hall two were replaced with new nar-
row-aisle racking. Since a temporary closure of
the facility was out of the question, operations
continued parallel to the building work.
The challenge was to disrupt regular
operations as little as possible, explains
Harry Schmalholz, head of logistics. So we
made every effort to handle a portion of the
shipments through our Hrth and Knapsack
sites (south of Cologne) giving our co-workers
the necessary room to manoeuvre. The active
support of all our employees was also essen-
tial. Otherwise, we couldnt have completed
this project in only 10 weeks.
More modern, more effective
The upgrade project not only increased
the effciency of the Niehl facility. It also
expanded storage capacity. Thanks to the
new racking system, hall two has increased
its capacity from 2,400 pallet spaces to over
3,750. In the second phase, the new drive-in
racking put into hall one raised its capacity to
around 4,800 spaces. This made it possible
to reintegrate non-stackable products (pre-
viously stored offsite in a rented 10,000-m
2

warehouse), back to the Niehl location where
only 4,000-m
2
of foor space is now required.
In fact, the modernisation was so thorough,
it could almost be considered a rebuild.
Everything was brought up to scratch, from
the new foor coverings, racking installations
and forklifts to the renovated offces, meeting
rooms, and all the safety systems.
Whats more, expertise gathered through
improving work processes at other logistics
facilities was channelled into this one right
from the planning stage, resulting in a new
layout for the high-rack storage installations,
which were rotated by 90 degrees. As one
might expect from such an across-the-board
modernisation, it also included the introduc-
tion of barcode and radio data-transmission
technology, which will greatly improve opera-
tional reliability.
We handle a higher-than-average quantity
of small shipments from 20 kg to 1,000
kg at Niehl, which means major order-
picking efforts and a large number of pallet
movements, says Logistics Manager Jean-Luc
Triebler, adding that expectations were high
regarding process enhancement. But it
didnt take long at all for the proven barcode
technology to make our work more reliable
and effcient.
CONTACT:
jean-luc.triebler@talke.com
christoph.reuffurth@talke.com
WHEN TALKE OPENED A BRANCH AT THE COLOGNE- NI EHL PORT
I N 1975, THE RACKI NG SySTEM WAS CONSI DERED TO BE THE
ULTI MATE I N MODERN STORAGE. SOME 33 yEARS LATER, HOW-
EVER, THE SI GNS OF AGEI NG HAD BECOME OBVI OUS. BESI DES
THE OVERDUE UPGRADE TO THE SySTEM, AN ExPANSI ON WAS
ALSO DEEMED NECESSARy TO I NCREASE EFFI CI ENCy. THE
RESULT I S AN 800, 000 EURO MODERNI SATI ON PROJ ECT.
The new layout at the facility is helpful when it comes to getting ones bearings among the rows. Drive-in racking has reduced space requirements in hall one by 60 per cent.
MODERNISATION
THE RETURN OF ULTRA-MODERN RACKING
AFTER 33 yEARS
HIGHLIGHT 08 8 9 HIGHLIGHT 08
TELEMATI CS, WHI CH LI NKS TELECOMMUNI CATI ONS AND I NFORMATI CS, HAS
SUBSTANTI ALLy STREAMLI NED WORKFLOWS AT SHI PPI NG COMPANI ES I N RECENT
yEARS. CARRI ED OUT PREDOMI NANTLy OVER THE PHONE UNTI L THE START OF THE NEW
MI LLENNI UM, COMMUNI CATI ON BETWEEN DRI VERS AND DI SPATCHERS HAS CHANGED
DRASTI CALLy WI TH THE DAWN OF TELEMATI CS. NOW, FI VE yEARS AFTER I TS I NTRODUCTI ON
AT TALKE, THE SECOND GENERATI ON OF TELEMATI CS DEVI CES HAS ARRI VED.
TELEMATICS
OPTIMISING PROCESSES IN THE DRIVERS CAB
Powerful navigation processors:
what was until recently an optional convenience is now
standard equipment for enhancing workfows.
T
he frst telematics systems, installed at
TALKE in mid-2003, transmit data pack-
ets via SMS between the lorries and
Roadliner, the TALKE transport management
system. Since then, some 300 vehicles have
been outftted with Euro Telematiks TMG410
technology. On top of order information,
the data exchanged includes loading times,
weight and vehicle status (e.g. loading,
unloading, traffc status, etc.). Like computer
technology, telematics systems have ad-
vanced at a steady pace in the past years.
Consequently, it was time to bring in a new
device: the FB6000. Above and beyond the
aforementioned basic functions, the FB6000
offers many new features, providing driver
and dispatcher with deployment and naviga-
tion support and also helping feet manage-
ment by evaluating vehicle economy.
Advanced technology, added features
Perhaps the most important innovation with
the FB6000 is the modernised data transfer.
The aging SMS standard is being replaced
by General Packet Radio Service (GPRS),
the standard used for mobile phones. GPRS
delivers considerably higher transfer rates
than SMS at a lower cost, and well-known
modules like tracking & tracing or transmit-
ting order data simply work better.
Order-related data such as product, loading
point and recipient information are no
longer restricted to 160 characters. Now,
such data can be provided to drivers in its
entirety. There are no longer limitations to
the quantity of text.

Another novelty concerns tracking & tracing.
Unlike the current system, in which locating
takes place via a signal either transmitted
from the vehicle or activated in the transport
management system, position data is sent
from the vehicle to the control centre at
preset intervals. Dispatch is thus continuous-
ly informed about a trucks present situation
and route something that can be especially
helpful with shipments that are urgent or
exceptionally valuable.
Convenience becomes standard
A must have for most car drivers today
the navigation system is now helping
trucks fnd their destinations, too. Routing
in the FB6000 still uses standard software.
This, however, will be replaced with a
navigation program specially designed for
transport companies when it hits the market.
Called Trucknavigation, the new software
is designed specifcally for the challenges
of a 40-ton lorry. Bridge weight limitations,
routes with inadequate overhead clearance
and dangerous goods restrictions are no lon-
ger obstacles for drivers unfamiliar with the
area, since the system has already planned
around them.
Good management potential, from economy
to HR planning
The new system also takes special aim at the
economical and ecological sides of vehicle
operation. To assess these aspects, the
telemetry data provided by the truck man-
ufacturer for the FMS (Fleet Management
Interface System) is called upon. Together
with completed evaluations, it enables
conclusions to be made about fuel consump-
tion, parasitic load, prudent driving habits
and driving speed. The training needs of
individual drivers can then be determined on
the basis of these fndings. Additional mod-
ules like the digital tachograph connection,
driver card readout and bulk memory top off
the FB6000s human resource management
functionality.

CONTACT:
markus.kesternich@talke.com
HIGHLIGHT 08 10 11 HIGHLIGHT 08
left symbolise vibrancy and fexibility as
well as the materials being shipped. The
new slogan The Solid Transporter also
has a double meaning, referring both to the
solid sub stances that are BULK FORMULAs
speciality and the solid service delivered by
its partners. The frst containers now bear the
new logo, which should help raise awareness
of the company on the road.
Weve come to the conclusion that the col-
laboration has positively infuenced business
processes of all joint venture partners, in
spite of or perhaps because of the fact
that there is still healthy competition among
us outside of BULK FORMULA, added
Wessing.
Satisfed customers today, besides INEOS
Polyolefns, include BASF, INEOS Vinyls,
LVM, Cargill, Solvin and DSM

CONTACT:
klaus.wessing@talke.com
was put on the backburner until a later date.
But postponed doesnt mean forgotten, and the
decision to broaden BULK Formulas activities
meant it was the ideal time to come up with a
new and compelling company symbol.
No easy task for the agency responsible for
uniting the philosophy of six different compa-
nies into a single logo. Unlike the late David
Ogilvy, known as the father of advertising,
who strictly refused to work for associations
and joint ventures, Cologne-based agency
Crossover Communications took up the
challenge. And in contrast to expectations
of a protracted creative process because of
the quantity of stakeholders, the fnal design
was agreed on in only the second round of
presentations.
The logos black and orange colour combi-
nation gives no preferential treatment to any
of the six protagonists. The technological
favour of the lettering, meanwhile, makes
clear reference to the companys industrial
roots, while the different sized circles to the
A
t the time, the scope of the BP tender
was enormous, remembers Klaus
Wessing, Director of Operations.
There was a clear objective: BP Chemicals
wanted to restructure its transportation and
do as much shipping as possible with a
minimum of transport partners. The ultimate
goal was to reduce the number of logistical
service providers from over 70 to just one.
Admittedly, this wasnt entirely feasible, so
three companies were chosen in the end: one
consortium for palletised goods, one provider
for shipments to Spain, England and Scandi-
navia, and BULK Formula for road transport
in Europe.
The BULK FORMULA partners made a
commitment to the customer and themselves
to carry out every shipping order coming
in as a result of their successful BP Chemi-
cals bid. If one joint venture partner was
unable to take on a shipment, the others were
obligated to cover for them.
We knew from the beginning that if we
wanted a piece of the action, we would have
to think out of the box in an unconventional
way, explained Wessing. What weve ma-
naged as a result is more than just the benefts
that come with a large transport package.
Thanks to the close cooperation, weve also
achieved a whole new level of service quality.
The probability of an order being neglected
because of unforeseeable events or proving
too much to handle due to overcapacity has
decreased by a factor of six. After the initial
contract came to an end fve years later,
INEOS Polyolefns which had since acquired
Innovene, the successor to BP Chemicals
called another tender. It was especially satisfy-
ing that BULK FORMULA was again selected
on such a signifcant scale.
We delivered top quality right from day
one, continued Wessing, and at our regular
meetings we hear again and again how BULK
FORMULA was one of the best and most capa-
ble partners INEOS Polyolefns had. The result
of the new tender testifes to this.
New logo for new activities
During the 2003 foundation, there was little
time to worry about designing a company
logo. With the focus on business operations, it
DRy BULK LOGISTICS
BULK FORMULA TRUCKING ALONG
WITH A NEW LOGO AFTER FIVE yEARS
BULK FORMULA HAS BEEN ACTI VE I N THE DRy BULK TRANSPORT MARKET SI NCE JUNE 2003, WHEN THE
JOI NT VENTURE WAS ESTABLI SHED By SI x LOGI STI CS COMPANI ES, NAMELy TALKE, BRUHN, FREUND,
DE RI JKE, G SI MONS AND GCA. A TENDER CALLED By BP CHEMI CALS WAS THE DRI VI NG FORCE BEHI ND
THI S UNUSUAL COALI TI ON OF COMPETI TORS. AT STAKE WAS A CONTRACT BEI NG REALLOCATED FOR ALL
THE COMPANyS SI LO TRANSPORTATI ON ACROSS CENTRAL EUROPE.

HIGHLIGHT 08 12 13 HIGHLIGHT 08
ON 5 J UNE 2008, TALKE EMPLOyEES WERE J OI NED By OVER 200 GUESTS FROM BUSI NESS
AND GOVERNMENT TO I NAUGURATE I TS NEW 4 MI LLI ON EURO CONTAI NER TERMI NAL
I N HRTH. A COMPREHENSI VE SERVI CES CONCEPT WAS DEVELOPED I N ORDER TO OFFER
I TS CUSTOMERS MORE ADDED VALUE THAN EVER. UNSURPRI SI NGLy, THI S CONCEPT I S
FOCUSED ON PRODUCTS FROM THE CHEMI CAL AND PETROCHEMI CAL I NDUSTRy.
GRAND OPENING
yOUR ONE-STOP SHOP AT THE
HRTH CONTAINER TERMINAL
A
nticipated growth rates of 6-10 per
cent annually for container traffc
have meant big smiles all around for
ship owners, port operators and transport
companies. But the other side of the coin
is how such growth affects their capacities.
TALKE is no exception. The previous Hrth
container terminal had become inadequate to
cover anything over and above present needs
and there was no longer room for additional
customers. TALKE was determined to develop
a new concept that put the spotlight on inte-
grated services along the entire supply chain.
TALKEs main priorities were to increase the
companys capabilities in terms of container-
based logistics concepts and expand terminal
capacity. The facility now has a total surface
area of 25,000-m
2
with space for 800 fully
loaded and another 200 empty containers.
TALKE expects an annual handling volume of
34,000 movements at the new terminal. A
350-metric-ton gantry crane with state-of-the-
art drive and control technology will run in
two-shift operation six days a week in order
to manage such quantities.
These days, containers are not only a means
of transportation. As highly fexible supply
chain tools, theyre also employed for stor-
age. This, in turn, has stimulated additional
customer demand for services such as stor-
age for unlimited periods and delayed flling
in different containers. With the opening of
the new terminal, TALKE now has the neces-
sary capacity to handle (above and beyond
storage) the distribution of goods from
virtually any area of industry. The facility has
been designed to store 20, 30 and 40-foot
containers for solids and packaged goods as
well as 20 and 30-foot containers for liquids.
Smaller companies in particular will beneft
from the cost savings such solutions offer,
while large producers and dealers will proft
from the fexibility of having safety stocks
available to react to peaks in demand.
Wanted: dangerous goods
The terminal was primarily designed to store
materials hazardous to water up to (and
including) water hazard class III according to
Germanys Federal Water Act (WHG) and ADR
class 3, 8 and 9 dangerous goods. Total stor-
age capacity for loaded containers is 18,200
metric tons, 11,200 metric tons of which are
earmarked for dangerous goods and materials
hazardous to water. Furthermore, water/glycol,
electronic and steam systems are available for
temperature-controlled containers.
A comprehensive safety concept ensures that
no harm comes to people or the environment.
It includes early fre-detection equipment,
the companys own fre brigade (see related
article on page 5), automatic extinguisher
canons and generously sized retention basins
for materials and fre-fghting water.
On top of connections to the road network,
the terminal also has its own direct rail link for
shipping and receiving containers. ADR con-
tainers (for dangerous goods) as well as those
with innocuous products can be clustered for
forwarding to inland ports and seaports at the
new interior terminal, which is just around the
corner from Cologne-Eifeltor, Europes largest
rail container terminal. Add in the advantages
of the direct links possible via the Cologne
ring motorway and you have an optimum
choice of intermodal shipping possibilities.
We want to develop more synergies with our
customers with this container terminal, thereby
providing fexibility and improving effciency,
declared TALKE group CEO Armin Talke at
the inauguration of the facility, highlighting the
focus on integrated supply chain services. By
providing customised pre- and post-transport
legs, flling, reflling and storage facilities, and
a shuttle service to the nearby rail terminal
and inland ports, the facility delivers a great
deal more than merely the use of containers
for transport-related activities.
A wide spread of services
TALKE supplements these offerings with
extensive services specifcally tailored to the
needs of transporters and container agents.
They cover everything to do with containers,
including repairs, maintenance, inspection
and cleaning. Of course, TALKE also has
storage and material-handling areas as well
as assorted value-added services available
for third-party equipment. Customers can
make use of them either as part of a package
or individually on demand.
CONTACT:
klaus.wessing@talke.com

In his opening speech, Armin Talke highlighted the high levels
of fexibility and effciency at the new terminal.
The powerful gantry crane will handle up to 34,000 movements
per year in two-shift operation.
HIGHLIGHT 08 14 15 HIGHLIGHT 08
F
actors contributing to the success of
the joint venture between Kerry and
TALKE include in-depth knowledge of
the Chinese market and extensive chemical
logistics experience. Kerry-TALKE is thus able
to support companies in their Chinese busi-
ness endeavours with specially trained staff
and a far-reaching logistics network. Were
a reliable partner for our customers in Asia,
whom we offer comprehensive services and
the sort of management that helps them avoid
problems locally, says Kerry-TALKE General
Manager Kevin Loyens. Despite the global-
ising world of commerce, many Europeans
are cautious when it comes to doing business
in China. Indeed, reports of negative expe-
riences make the enormous distances and
cultural differences seem insurmountable.
Our customers relate stories to us time and
time again of serious quality problems with
Chinese goods, explained Loyens. We ana-
lysed these accounts and determined that the
processes downstream from production posed
the most diffculties. In fact, weve already
helped many customers with our know-how and
levelled the playing feld for business in China.
Customers were notifed about the import
possibilities offered by Kerry-TALKE in an
information letter sent out in June. Many
seemed to have been waiting for something
like this, reported Sales Manager Andrea
Mnzer. We received a great deal of very
positive feedback within only a few days,
and have already managed to solve prob-
lems several customers were experiencing
with damp, poorly packaged and inade-
quately documented goods.
Quality control by specialists
Kerry-TALKE has a China-wide distribution
network at its disposal for collecting goods
CHINA
KERRy-TALKE TAKES ON
FIRST PROJECTS IN CHINA
THE PEOPLE S REPUBLI C OF CHI NA
HAS UNDENI ABLy DEVELOPED
I NTO AN I MPORTANT PRODUCER
OF CHEMI CALS AND ADDI TI VES,
BUT PRODUCTS FROM CHI NA
ARE A FREQUENT SOURCE OF
PROBLEMS. FOR THOSE ON THE
RECEI VI NG END OF CHI NESE
GOODS, QUALI Ty AND SAFETy
SHORT COMI NGS OFTEN TRANSLATE
I NTO ADDED EFFORT AND ExPENSE.
THEREFORE, BEyOND I MPORT AND
ONSI TE LOGI STI CS, KERRy- TALKE
HAS BROADENED I TS RANGE OF
LOGI STI CAL SERVI CES TO COVER
THE PERI OD AFTER PRODUCTI ON
RI GHT UP UNTI L DELI VERy TO THE
END RECI PI ENT.
from manufacturers. They can either deliver
products directly to a Kerry-TALKE warehouse
themselves or have Kerry-TALKE take care of
it for them. Kerry-TALKE staff can also work
onsite at the production facility. During the
quality control phase following production,
specially trained staff inspect the packaging
quality, stacking and labelling of goods. They
are thus able to detect and correct improperly
packaged, damp or damaged products and
pallets at an early stage. Kerry-TALKE also
makes sure the necessary improvements are
made and documented for the customer in
cases where predefned quality standards are
not met.
Uninterrupted transportation chain
The next phase sees the goods placed into
containers according to an optimised loading
plan. Kerry-TALKE also takes care of putting
together consolidated freight container ship-
ments at the warehouse. A record of the con-
dition of the goods prior to shipment is made
for the customer in Europe. When a shipment
has been exported and all the customs
documents are in order, it is then received in
the destination country by a member of the
TALKE network.
Flexibility through cooperation
Besides the storage and distribution of their
products, customers can also draw upon an
assortment of value-added services like flling
and reflling. For this purpose, Kerry-TALKE
has reached a cooperation agreement with a
logistics company focused on the east China
region, meaning for the most part Shanghai
and the industrial belt along the yangtze River.
Following various surveys, we have decided
for the time being against acquiring our own
facilities, said Loyens, shedding some light
on the market demand-based strategy. By
providing a network of rented facilities with
the possibility to include on value-added
services, were able to react to the needs of
our customer with the utmost fexibility.
CONTACT:
kevin.loyens@kerrytalke.com
andrea.muenzer@talke.com
Qualifed employees ensure seamless operations
in the Kerry-TALKE warehouses.
Weve already helped
many customers with our
know-how and levelled the
playing feld for business
in China.
Kevin Loyens, General Manager
Kerry-TALKE Chemical Logistics
HIGHLIGHT 08 16 17 HIGHLIGHT 08
G
ermanys automakers, machine
producers and plant engineers
traditionally head up the list of the
countrys top exporters. But with its highly
specialised logistical services, TALKE is well
on the way to joining this exclusive group.
The company is not only constructing the
huge state-of-the-art silo logistics centre at the
Qatofn plant, it will also operate the onsite
facility on behalf of the customer on a long-
term basis.
Qatofn was established in 2005 as a joint
venture between the Qatar Petrochemical
Company (Qapco), French-owned Total Petro-
chemicals and Qatar Petroleum. Qatofns
long-term goal is to create a world-leading
polymer industry in Qatar.
Qatofn was seeking an experienced chemi-
cal logistics partner, and found one after
some start-up diffculties with another service
provider in TALKE. Were pleased to have
a partner that were confdent will bring the
construction to a positive conclusion, de-
clared a satisfed Qatofn General Manager
Dr. Mohammed Al-Mulla at the fnal contract
signing in Doha, the Qatari capital. We also
believe this is the beginning of a successful
relationship operating the facility together
with TALKE.
Strategic relevance
The 300-page contract covers construction of
the $38 million logistics centre at Mesaieed
Industrial City, some 40 km south of Doha.
Completion of the TALKE groups largest
logistics building project to date is scheduled
for the end of 2008. Also included in the
contract is a $120 million agreement to
operate the centre over the next 15 years.
The Qatofn agreement is without a doubt
one of the landmark achievements in the
companys 60-year history. But that still isnt
QATAR
LANDMARK IN THE GULF
the most important aspect of the project in the
eyes of Managing Director Alfred Talke.
By building and operating the Qatofn facility,
TALKE becomes the frst logistics provider oper-
ating at several major production sites of the
petrochemical industry in the Middle East, he
said. It makes a strong statement to our cus-
tomers that they can rely on the TALKE groups
capabilities anytime even for projects of this
magnitude.
Massive project on time
Covering a total area of 100,000 m
2
, the fa-
cility consists of around 55,000 m
2
of covered
storage space with 14,500 m
2
of silo volume,
15 loading docks and a terminal that can hold
up to 1,000 containers.
The fact that it takes 12 minutes just to
circumnavigate the roofed area on foot puts
the sheer size of the centre into perspective.
Thats around 1 km. Twelve 1,100-m
2
silos
will be supplied directly from production via
feed lines with polyethylene, a thermoplastic.
The material is packed into bags from two
fully automatic mobile bagging lines, while
an additional machine handles the flling of
big bags. Belt throwers are used to load a
signifcant portion of the product onto maritime
containers, enabling the end recipient to
unload the material directly into production or
silos. When operation gets under way, TALKE
will handle 450,000-600,000 metric tons of
the granules per year. Construction, mean-
while, is proceeding according to plan.
Weve already fnished the warehouse roofs
and are now working fat out installing the
technical equipment, announced Christoph
Grunert, TALKEs General Manager in Qatar.
Because of the hot weather, all warehouses
need to be ftted with ventilation systems.
These are so powerful that, in spite of their
enormity, the roughly 1.5 million m
3
of air in
the structures is exchanged three times per
hour.
Demand for international solutions
Qatars vast gas reserves serve as the basis
for such major investments. And for polymer
production, the Sovereign State of Qatar can
fall back on its signifcant reserves of crude oil.
Qatofns production is exported primarily to
WHEN THE LARGEST AND MOST ADVANCED SI LO LOGI STI CS CEN-
TRE I N THE ARABI AN GULF COMMENCES OPERATI ONS I N QATAR I N
THE FI RST QUARTER OF 2009, I T WI LL MEAN MORE THAN JUST THE
COMPLETI ON OF ONE OF THE MOST SI GNI FI CANT PROJECTS I N
TALKES HI STORy. THE CONSTRUCTI ON AND OPERATI ON AGREEMENT
REACHED WI TH POLyETHyLENE PRODUCER QATOFI N I N MARCH 2008
ALSO SETS NEW STANDARDS FOR THE ENTI RE REGI ON. AS A RESULT,
TALKE I S THE FI RST CHEMI CAL LOGI STI CS PROVI DER TO BE OPERATI NG
ACROSS SEVERAL MAJOR MI DDLE EAST PRODUCTI ON SI TES.
There is global demand for plastic feedstock
from SPC, and the amounts produced at Al-
Jubail are growing continuously. This is good
news for S.A. TALKE, which is now handling
the increased polypropylene production.
This has risen from 450,000 metric tons to
720,000 metric tons annually. In addition
to this, the company is also responsible for
800,000 metric tons of polyethylene per
year from a new plant. This material will be
packed onsite and then prepared for ship-
ment at the S.A. TALKE offsite facility.
Al-Jubail was the frst stop in the Middle East
for our company, and it has been a positive
experience through and through, said Director
Business Development Richard Heath, who is
very encouraged about getting a foothold on the
Saudi Arabian market. Im confdent that our
investments will continue to play a constructive
role in developing modern logistical solutions in
Saudi Arabia and the surrounding region.
In fact, several new developments are al ready
on his Logistic Solutions teams watch list,
including projects in Oman and Abu Dhabi
CONTACT:
richard.heath@talke.com
SAUDI ARABIA
INCREASED VOLUMES
FROM AL-JUBAIL
TALKES SAUDI ARABI AN JOI NT VENTURE, S.A. TALKE, WAS RE-
CENTLy AWARDED ANOTHER TENDER By SAUDI POLyOLEFI NS COM-
PANy (SPC). I N SEPTEMBER, THE ONSI TE TEAM I N AL- JUBAI L BEGAN
HANDLI NG THE OUTPUT OF A NEW POLyETHyLENE PRODUCTI ON
PLANT. THEy ALSO BEGAN SHI PPI NG I TS OUTPUT THROUGH THE
TALKE OFFSI TE FACI LI Ty AT AL- JUBAI LS COMMERCI AL PORT.
The Al-Jubail offsite facility has been handling an annual volume
of 800,000 metric tons from the start.
The beginning of a new partnership: Dr. Mohammed Al-Mulla and Armin Talke seal the deal at the fnal contract signing.
Europe and Asia. Thanks to recent develop-
ments in these markets together with the
exposure gained during this project, TALKE is
in an excellent position to provide more spe-
cialised chemical logistics services to these
customers and regions. In fact, TALKEs man-
agers are confdent that the strategic goal
internationalisation has been realised and
is already beginning to bear fruit.
Qatofn is of course our largest building
project at the moment, reiterated Richard
Heath, Director Business Development, but
it defnitely wont be our last one of this
magnitude.
CONTACT:
richard.heath@talke.com
christoph.grunert@talke.com
HIGHLIGHT 08 18 19 HIGHLIGHT 08
Back in Germany, the opening of the con-
t ainer terminal at our Hrth headquarters
(outside Cologne) marks a decisive step for-
ward for the companys European tanker and
silo transport division. Im also delighted that
we were able to green light an expansion
at Schwarzheide (north of Dresden). The
groundbreaking ceremony for this, the third
expansion in as many years, took place in
June 2008. Another highlight has to be the
completion of the formation process for Kerry-
TALKE, our joint venture in China and, after
receiving the required business licences, the
commencement of operations.
How would you gauge the success thus far of
the companys emergence in Asia through the
Kerry-TALKE joint venture?
After taking into account the country-specifc
challenges, such as complex and time-
consuming authorisation procedures, the
size of the market and speed at which its
developing, then were very satisfed. We
were well aware beforehand that we had a
steep learning curve in front of us and would
have to adapt our services portfolio to the
needs and requirements of local business
and industry. The drivers behind logistics
outsourcing in China differ to some extent
from those in Europe and are dependent on
both product groups as well as the type of
logistical service. Whats most important to us
is that the standard of quality offered by the
TALKE group to its customers in China is on
par with what we deliver to our customers in
Europe and the Middle East.
Speaking of the Middle East, that is where
TALKE is chalking up its strongest growth at
the moment. There, too, chemical logistics
operate in dimensions even your company
is unaccustomed to. How does a family
business like TALKE keep up with such diverse
and practically global activities?
Were currently achieving rapid and signi-
fcant growth within our Logistics business
segment, and yes, the projects have unfa-
miliar dimensions by European standards,
but our strategy to develop a presence in
the Middle East early on is now paying
off. For example, our organisation in Saudi
Arabia has a four-year development phase
behind it and will soon be TALKEs largest
site in terms of tonnage. We have also
effectively utilised man agement, technolog-
ical and administrative synergies between
the Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabian sites.
A key success factor has been the consis-
tent development of the operational and
management structures within the group to
support the growing needs of the market as
well as the company itself. Integral to all this
is the transfer of know-how between entirely
different felds. The spectrum here ranges
from planning expertise for flling stations to
the controlling and reporting requirements
defned within the group. Close cooperation
and information exchange between our loca-
tions is extremely important, so we certainly
try to encourage it.
Youve also invested substantially in Germany
with the Schwarzheide facility expansion,
the new container terminal in Hrth and
increased transport capacities. Are TALKEs
activities focused more heavily at home or
abroad?
TALKE has invested signifcantly in Germany
and elsewhere during the current fscal year.
With the exception of Qatar, Germany has
been the main recipient of recent investment.
However, I wouldnt say its also the main
focus of activities. An investment here is
always an investment into the network as a
whole, and Germany will always remain our
homeland. But were developing continuously
from a European Logistics Service Provider to
one with a global focus. We may even reach
a point in the foreseeable future where our
activities abroad surpass those at home.
What projects are you working on at the
moment? What can customers expect from
TALKE in the coming months?
There are many new developments now in
the project stage that will be fnalised in
2009 and turned over to operation. We also
have a number of customer-driven projects
in the pipeline that are still in the discussion
phase. I also see the coming year as a year
of consolidation and optimisation within
certain business segments and locations.
Without going into the details, I can assure
our client and customers that we will pull out
all the stops again next year as we continue
broadening and fne-tuning our services to
their supply chain needs.
Thanks for the interesting conversation,
Mr Talke!
Mr. Talke, its been almost a year since you
last spoke with Highlight. We would like
to take this opportunity to look back on the
companys achievements and ask what you
think have been the highlights of these past
12 months?
The obvious highlight has been our entrance
into the Qatari market with the takeover of
onsite logistics at Qatofn. As the largest and
most signifcant project to date for the TALKE
Group, it represents a breakthrough in many
respects: from the scope of the project and
amount of investment required, to the size
of the building site and production volumes
to be handled at the outset. The fact that the
TALKE group is there for its customers at 100-
per-cent effectiveness even for projects of this
magnitude demonstrates how the company
has matured.
I N AN I NTERVI EW WI TH HI GHLI GHT, MANAGI NG DI RECTOR
ALFRED TALKE TOOK STOCK OF THE TALKE GROUP S RECENT
ACTI VI TI ES, OUTLI NI NG HOW THE POSI TI ONI NG OF THE
CHEMI CAL LOGI STI CS SERVI CE PROVI DER HAS CHANGED AS
OPERATI ONS HAVE GROWN AND DI SCUSSES THE OBJ ECTI VES
FOR THE COMI NG FI SCAL yEAR.
INTERVIEW
WERE TURNING INTO A
GLOBAL SERVICE PROVIDER!
Were also going to
continue working on
broadening our services
in 2009 and fne-tuning
them to the supply chain
needs of our customers.
Alfred Talke
HIGHLIGHT 08 20 21 HIGHLIGHT 08
MODERN METROPOLIS
IN THE ARABIAN DESERT
THE EVERPRESENT I MAGE OF HI S HI GHNESS SHEI KH ZAyED BI N SULTAN AL NAHyAN
GAZES DOWN FROM BI LLBOARDS, SOARI NG GRANI TE SLABS AND COLOSSAL OI L
PAI NT I NGS. MOST OF THE TI ME, HES THE BEARER OF GOOD TI DI NGS WI TH HI S HANDS
RAI SED I N WELCOMI NG FASHI ON. THE FORMER ABU DHABI RULER AND PRESI DENT OF
THE UNI TED ARAB EMI RATES HAS EVERy REASON TO SMI LE. RELI ABLE ESTI MATES CREDI T
THE DESERT STATE WI TH 5 PER CENT OF THE WORLDS GAS RESERVES AND 10 PER CENT
OF I TS OI L, ExTRACTI NG SOME 2.4 MI LLI ON BARRELS PER DAy.
By Kiki Baron
T
hanks to Sheikh Zayeds vision,
government revenue was invested
into exceptional infrastructure for Abu
Dhabi and its residents. In just fve decades,
a modern city of 800,000 emerged from a
barren desert where practically nothing stood
apart from a small fortress and a few houses.
Skyscraper after skyscraper towers over the
ten-lane Corniche thoroughfare for more than
5 km along the seaside. He didnt live to see
the completion of his last mega-project. But
in February 2005, his son and the current
monarch, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, offcially opened the Emir-
ates Palace a hotel whose size and interior
eclipse everything that has come before it.
Abu Dhabi
DESTINATION
Status symbols for a country
With 114 domes, a 1,000-metre long faade
adorned with columns and arches, and a me-
ticulously manicured garden, pool and beach
landscape, the Emirates Palace Hotel is one
of the highlights of a visit to Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi, the city, is the capital of Abu
Dhabi, the emirate, as well as of the United
Arab Emirates as a whole. The word extrav-
agance takes on new dimensions in this
monumental structure. With corridors as
wide as tennis courts and gargantuan marble
lounges, foyers, courtyards and lobbies, no
income is earned from an estimated 50 per
cent of its covered surface. The hotel doesnt
necessarily need to earn a proft, however, as
Sophisticated cityscape, vast desert backdrop,
profuse luxury and 360 days of sunshine beckon
tourists to the emirate and city of Abu Dhabi
HIGHLIGHT 08 22 23 HIGHLIGHT 08
it is more the status symbol for a country that
wants to show the world what pure luxury is
and entice pampered holidaymakers to its
shores. This target market was also in mind
when Etihad Airways, a state-owned airline,
was established in 2003.
Island of Happiness
enticing tourists
The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority was set up
in September 2004 to promote tourism and
related services. Numerous luxury hotels and
golf courses are now under construction,
and some projects on previously uninhabited
islands will be completed in the next few
years. Lulu Island is one example. Located
across from the Corniche, this long man-
made island of sand and palms will be
home to ten hotels and resorts. A gigantic
cultural centre is being erected on the 27 km
2

Saadiyat Island, which translates as Island
of Happiness from Arabic. It was designed
by world-renowned architects including
Frank Gehry (who will build another outlet
of the Guggenheim Museum), Jean Nouvel
(a branch of the Louvre), Tadao Ando (the
Maritime Museum), and Zaha Hadid (the Per-
forming Arts Centre). The cultural centre will
include educational facilities for artists as well
as working studios, built in collaboration with
the Sorbonne and yale University. The new
Sheikh Zayed National Museum, designed
by Norman Forster & Partners, will be the frst
to open its doors in 2010. Four other islands
situated some 300 km from the capital and
commonly known as the Desert Islands, will
be dotted with hotels and luxury apartments.
The state has also welcomed foreign real
estate investors: with foreigners now able
to acquire apartments and villas on 99-year
leases. Considering a luxury holiday home in
Abu Dhabi? There will undoubtedly be plenty
on offer for holiday-makers in future besides
merely 360 days of sunshine.
The spring once a
rest-stop for caravans
The ideal time to travel is winter, when the
sea is pleasantly warm and the air remi-
niscent of a well-heated sitting room. The
azure waters off Abu Dhabis white powder
sand beaches are protected from waves and
superb for swimming. And those who cant
get enough sand can always head off to the
desert. The country has almost 68,000-km
2
of
it, although you might not notice at frst, since
the motorways are lined with a dense green-
belt. Along the road to Al Ain, youll fnd tree
farms and large-scale plantations growing
tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers,
and even strawberries. Al Ain, or spring in
Arabic, still has the date tree grove that Al
Ain originally nourished. It also features the
Jahili Fort, an imposing stronghold where the
late Sheikh Zayed spent his childhood. It now
serves as a museum. The city used to be an
important resting place for caravans.
Today, Al Ain (home to 200,000 residents)
features modern developments and a pol-
ished look. The camel market is one of the
major tourist attractions and the last vestige
of an ancient tradition. During cooler times
of the year, as many as a thousand drome-
daries may be up for sale. But the days when
traders rode their ships of the desert to the
market are long over. These valuable crea-
tures now get there in the speed and comfort
of pick-ups.
Luxury in the desert
In the evening, a chain of lights shines across
the horizon. In daylight, it turns out to be
a paved street described by some as the
greatest driving road in the world. Millions
of years ago, a bizarre rock formation was
thrust out of the earth to a height of 1,300
metres. Jebel Haft, as its called, is only a
few kilometres from Al Ain. On a clear day,
the hotel at the summit offers a fabulous
view of the city, with its gardens, and the
shimmering copper desert sea surrounding it.
Perhaps even more captivating is the desert
by the Liwa Oasis, where the dunes pile up
into immense mountains of sand almost as
high as the Eifel Tower in a breathtaking
pink, gold and butter-cream yellow play of
colours. This is the northeast edge of the Rub
al Khali desert, the empty quarter of the
Arabian Peninsula. When British explorer
Wilfred Thesiger arrived at the Liwa Oasis
while crossing the region on camel as the frst
European 60 years ago, he met only a few
Bedouin tribes, desert nomads from whom
the royal Al Nahyan dynasty descended.
These days, foreign workers from central and
south Asia toil on vast vegetable farms. The
Abu Dhabis have mostly replaced the camels
with comfortable jeeps, with which they travel
dust free and at pleasant temperature to
hidden desert palaces.
Getting there:
Etihad Airways operates direct fights
between numerous European cities and
Abu Dhabi. In addition to its prize-winning
business class, Etihad also regularly offers
economy tickets at reasonable prices.
Where to stay:
Budget accommodation is more or less
unheard of in prosperous Abu Dhabi. The
opposite end of the spectrum starts with the
lavish Emirates Palace, whose splendour
should be taken in (if nothing else) over a
mocha and mouth-watering piece of gold-
coated chocolate cake. For more information,
see www.emiratespalace.com.
The Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers is a less
expensive hotel featuring a hip nightclub, fan-
cy bar and Brauhaus, a German restaurant
and bar. Go to www.beachrotana.com to
fnd out more.
In Al Ain, look no further than the InterConti-
nental (www.ichotelsgroup.com).
Where to eat:
The best fsh can be had at Finz in the
Beach Rotana. For Indian cuisine, try the
Zari Zardozi at Le Royal Mridien, and for
Lebanese go to Al-Birkeh at Le Mridien.
Information:
The traditional and the modern blend into one in
Abu Dhabi. More than 50 per cent of the citys
2.5 million residents are foreigners.
HIGHLIGHT 08 24
RAFFLE
What percentage of foor space
could be saved at the Cologne-Niehl
site using drive-in racking?
ExPANSION
LOGISTICS
CENTRE ExPAN-
SION CREATES
NEW JOBS
In June 2008, TALKE broke ground on the
expansion of its logistics centre in an indus-
trial park in Schwarzheide, which is 50 km
north of Dresden in eastern Germany. TALKE
Branch Manager Joachim Nitzsche marked
the occasion by performing this symbolic act
together with local mayor Manfred Richter
and Sven Pliquett from C & P Elementbau
Leipzig, a construction frm. Hitherto TALKE
had just over 5,400 m
2
of covered storage
at the 26,000 m
2
site. But by the time the ex-
tension is completed in October of this year,
the total space shielded from the elements
will have almost doubled to 10,500 m
2
. The
three new halls are earmarked primarily for
the storage of plastic granules produced by
neighbouring BASF as well as preparing the
materials for shipment.
TALKE and BASF Schwarzheide have been
linked for several years by a strong partnership.
Besides the aforementioned Schwarzheide facil-
ity, TALKE has been operating an ultramodern
onsite logistics centre at BASFs Schwarzheide
plant since the summer of 2005.
Because of this strategically favourable loca-
tion a stones throw from the A13 motorway,
other customers can also take advantage of
the enlarged logistics centre to store their own
packaged plastic granules. When completed,
the expansion project will create fve new jobs
in addition to the 30 already employed by
TALKE at the two Schwarzheide sites.
CONTACT:
heinz.klose@talke.com
1
ST
PRIZE: a Canon Digital IxUS 80 IS digital camera
2
ND
PRIZE: a Canon Selphy CP-760 photo printer
3
RD
PRIZE: an LED LENSER

T7 pocket lamp
Send your answer to:
ALFRED TALKE GmbH & Co. KG
Max-Planck-Str. 20, 50354 Hrth
Germany
Fax: +49 (0)2233 599-103
E-mail: quizz@talke.com
Entry deadline is 31 January 2009. The postmark
date is valid for mailed entries. The judges decision
is fnal. Winners will be notifed directly. TALKE
group employees are not permitted to enter.
Manfred Richter, Joachim Nitzsche and Sven Pliquett
break the frst ground.
FLEETBOARD
BATTLE OF THE MOST
ECONOMICAL DRIVERS
W
inning the master class was
the slogan of the sixth annual
FleetBoard Drivers League.
Over 4,000 truck drivers from European
transport and logistics companies took part
in this challenging and exciting competition,
including 46 drivers from TALKE. From 1 to
30 June 2008, the mileage accumulated
during day-to-day driving was assessed using
FleetBoard telemetric performance analysis
data. All drivers covering at least 4,000 km
over the course of the competition were eligi-
ble to enter. An objective appraisal could be
made of a drivers economical and ecological
driving skills based on the kilometre reading,
while also taking into account factors like driv-
ers foresight changes in speed and braking
behaviour.
This blend of effcient driving and sporting
competition is what makes the FleetBoard
Drivers League so interesting, since compa-
nies and drivers alike need to come to grips
with economics and environmental protection.
For the frst time this year, a fnal playoff
round was held to determine the winner from
the top 20 drivers. In August, the top three
competed for the grand prize: a weekend at
the German Touring Car Masters. Overall,
fve TALKE drivers ranked in the top 100, with
Hans-Ullrich Eich earning the best score: his
9.63 points (out of 10) was enough for 39
th

place.
Each year the competition produces a
considerable increase in the general driving
performance. This time around, less than
1 point separated the overall winner and
600th place.
More information, results as well as
economical driving tips can be found at
www.fahrerliga.com.
Fleet manager Jrgen Krempel congratulating Hans-Ullrich Eich
on his score.
IMPRINT
Publisher:
ALFRED TALKE GmbH & Co. KG
Max-Planck-Str. 20, 50354 Hrth
Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)2233 599-0
Fax: +49 (0)2233 599-160
Internet: www.talke.com
Responsible for contents:
Andreas Riem
E-mail: andreas.riem@talke.com
Editorial staff:
teamtosse. Agency for Communications
www.teamtosse.de
Layout:
crossover communication GmbH
www.cross-comm.net
Circulation and printing:
3,000, Dynevo Media Solutions,
Leverkusen, Germany
Picture credits:
Alfred TALKE Logistic Services